Cultivator



2. Sheets- Sheet 1.

(No Model.) J'. BIRCH.

GULTIVATOR. No. 487,978. Patented Dec'. 18, 1892.

AITOHNEYS ma uonms persas coi. quero-myufwnmsfow. o. cA

2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

(No Model.)

J. BIRCH.

GULTIVATOR. NQ. 487,978. Patented Dec. 13, 1892.

THE Nanms Frias co.'rHoTo-uwo., wAsmNcTnN. n. c.

UNITED STATESV PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES BIRCH, OF NORTH ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA.

C U LTIVATOR.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,978, dated December 13, 1892.

Application iiled April 15, 1892.

, the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to culti- -vators, and particularly to an improved wheelcultivator for orchard use.

The vobject of my invention is to construct a cultlvator of this class that shall be very `light and durable and provide a suitable riding-frame for the driver-one in which the cultlvator-frame can be raised or lowered while the machine is moving either in a Astraight line or while rounding curves and one in which the various shovels and Scrapers employed can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the cultivator-frame.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the Various parts, such as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciication, Figure l is a side View of my improved cultivator. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of attaching the shovels or plows. Fig. 4 shows the various-shaped shovels employed.

In carrying out my invention I employ a front axle A, supported by the ground-wheels B B, of suitable height, and to said axle is secured the tongue C, braced by the rods c c, connecting said axle and tongue. A vertical pivot-post K is attached centrally to th'e axle A, and upon said post is arranged the swivelcoupling M. Arched beams N N are secured at their forward ends to the swivel-coupling M, the rear ends of said beams being connected with the rear axle O, supported upon the ground-wheels P P. The arched beams N N are arranged essentially parallel, but diverge near their rear ends, said beams being properly spaced by means of a block Q, secured between the same near their centers, and to the upper face of said block is secured the seatspring R, upon which is secured the seat S, which seat is longitudinally adjustable in consequence of a slot produced in the lower por- Serial No.429,376. (No model.)

tion of spring R. A foot-rest W is secured to the beams N N near the forward ends of the same to support the feet of the driver while operating theA machine. Parallel rearwardly-extending draft-bars E E are secured to the axle A near the ends of the same, said draft-bars being bifurcated, as shown, and between their rear ends is secured the transverse tooth-bar D by means of bolts d and'wing-nuts d', by means of whicnthe 'bar can be quickly and easily attached to and. detached from the draft bars, for a purpose hereinafter eX- plained. A transverse spacing cross-barF is connected with the draft-bars E vE to maintain their parallel relation and connecting said cross-bar, and draft-bars are the diaganal brace-rods f f. Cultivator-teeth I-I H are secured alternately upon the front and rear sides of the tooth-bar by means of the staples g, guide-irons G being interposed between the teeth and bar to hold said teeth in vertical position. The guide-irons are shaped to fit the face of the beam and are provided with the guiding-lugs g', between which the tooth is arranged, and the perforations g2, through which the staple g is passed. A curved track-bar J is secured to the cultivator-frame near the rear end and elevated a short distance above the same, as clearly shown, said bar being curved in the arc of a circle of which the pivot-post is they center. A trolley-wheel I. is hung upon this trackbar and is adapted to travel upon the lower side thereof, and to the hanger of said trolley-wheel is attached a chain Z, the upper end of which is connected with a lever T, pivoted between the parallel beams N N upon a bolt t to the rear of the spacing-block Q. The lever T projects forward between the beams N N and is made angular, as shown, for the purpose of raising the cultivator-frame the greatest height from a moderately-low ridingframe. A spring-actuated catch fu is attached to the upper face of the lever T, said catch being operated through the medium of the thumb-latch V and pitmen o. A latch-bar v2 is secured between the beams N N forward of the seat-block and is adapted to engage the spring-catch QJ and hold the lever locked in an elevated position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,when it is desired to raise the lOO cultivator-frame from the ground. The teeth H can be removed when desired and plows or shovels used in their places, and when necessary the tooth-bar can be removed and a bar inserted carrying a Weed-scraper, and by employing the wing-nuts d the use of a wrench is dispensed with and the operations greatly facilitated. The lever projecting forward between the beams does not obstruct the drivers view, nor is it in his Way, and will not catch in the lower limbs of the trees. The riders frame being pivotally supported upon the main axle permits the cultivato'r to be operA ated While rounding sharp curves, thus permitting cultivation close to the roots of ltrees, plants, zc., and by means of the curved trackbar and trolley-wheel running thereon, I am enabled to elevate and. lower the cultivatorframe while rounding curves. The operations and advantages of the other features being clear to every one skilled in the art a recital here is unnecessary.

The riding-frame may be detached from the front axle, if desired, and the machine used as an ordinary cultivator.

Having th us described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a cnltivator, the combination, with the front and rear axles, of the arched frame swiveled to the front axle, the seat, the cultivatorframe attached to the front axle, the lever pivoted to the arched frame behind the seat and adapted to rest normally below the arched frame, and the chain connecting the lever and cultivator-frame, all arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. In a cultivator, the combination, with the front axle having a swivel-post, of the tubular coupling arranged thereon, the arched longitudinal bars connected with the said coupling, the seat carried by said bars, and the rear axle connected to their rear ends, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a cnltivator, the combination, with the front and rear axles, of the arched frame swiveled to the front axle, the cul-tivator-frame connected to the front axle, the curved trackbar connected to the rear portion of the cultivator-frame and elevated above the same, the lever, and chain, all arranged substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the main axle and the arched frame pivotally supported thereon, of the cultivator-frame arranged beneath the same, the curved track-bar secured to said cultivator-frame, the lever pivoted to the arched frame, and a chain connecting the 1ever and track-bar, said chain being adapted to move upon said track-bar, substantiallyas shown andA described.

5. The combination,with the front and rear axles, of the arched frame connecting the same and pivotally supported upon the front axle, the cultivator-frame pivotally connected with the front axle, a curved track-bar se: cured to the cultivator, the trolley-wheel arranged thereon, the lever, and chain, all arranged substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination, with the axles, of the arched riding-frame, the cultivator-fratne, the curved track-bar, the trolley Wheel and hanger, the chain, lever, spring-catch, thumb-- latch, and pitman, and the latch-bar secured to the riding-frame, all arranged substantially as shown and described.

` JAMES BIRCH.

Witnesses: x

W. H. SIMMoNs, WM. P. HENDERSON. 

